Wire-connector.



J. E. BURGESS.

WIRE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION HLEDAPrLzx. |915.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

mf Nowms Ferries Puamumn. lusmm: mn. n c. Y

nerr nur@ JOSEPH E. isunenss, or sT. LOUIsMIssonI,

.essIGNon rIo UNITED nAILwAYs COMPANY or sfr.y Louis, OF sr. LOUIS, MIssOUR'I, n CORPORATION or MISSOURI.

WIRE-CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea .tern 21, 191e. serial No. 92,618. 5

To all whom it may concern.' j

Be' it known that I, JOSEPH EBUnonss, a citizen of the United States,- residing at'the city of St. Louisand State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Wir'eonnector,4 or which the following is a speciiication".v

This invention relates to wire connectors, and it has particiilar reference to devices adapted for' use to connect electric line wires whether used for electric railways or other piirp'oses. j j

An object of the invention is' to provide a device adaptedto be connected to' the acent portions of a broken wire of an electric circuit te serye as a temporary connection be tween the' portions" of the broken wire so' that the circuit will not be interrupted during the time that the broken wire is being permanently repaired. j' i An additional object of the invention is td provide a device of the character mentioned adapted to be employed in connection with the wire stretching mechanism and to serve as a temporaryv removable connection Vas a part of the electric circuit di'iring' the time that the wires are being repaired.

Otheryob'jects will appear from the following detailed description of the invention in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a view of the device in c'on`n`ec`` tion with the adjacent portions of a broken electric wire.

Fig; 2 is a detailed sectionalview illustrating one of the' brackets and also illus-V trating the teles'coping c'onnectirig members'.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the une s s ef Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a similar sectional view on the line of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5is a sectional view on the line 5--'5 of Fig. l. j y

The adjacent portions of a broken electric line wire are indicated by 1 and said portions are shown in ccnnection with the usual wire stretchin0- mechanism comprising the clamps and pu ley devices 2 and the ropes 3. The adjacent ends of the broken wire are stretched and drawn together by this wire stretching mechanism, sithat the wire be repaired and the broken ends permanently connected. It is obvious that without the provision cf some device to serve as a connection betiieen tlie ends or the broken wire the electric circuit will remain broken or Interrupted so long as the ends of the wire l are disconnected.

The present invention comprises a device adapted to be used as a temporary removable connection `between the adjacent portions of the broken wire and is particularly adapted for usenin connection with trolley wires, so that'the' trolley Wheel may operate against the device, thus preventing'the car from stopping as otherwise might occur.

In the embodiment..illustrated there are two connectingv brackets or' duplicate construction, each comprising a base portion l and two approximately parallel. flanges 5, separated to form a space for receiving wires. The base portions 4 preferably taper tewar'd their outer extremities so that their lower siirfaces are normally continuous with thex lower suriacesofthe wires and thus constitute no material obstruction to' the operation of the trolley wheel, Thetlanges 5 are provided with holes 6 adapted to receive the removable members 7 so as to bind the brackets in connectionl with thefwiresv which'are seated upon thebase portions 4L between the flanges 5 and also between the base portions 4 and the members 7.

One of the brackets is attached to a tubular connecting member 8 and the other bracket is connected to a similar connecting member 9 which is movably extended into the member 8. By this construction the connector comprising the twolbrackets4 and the connecting members 8 and 9 may be eXtended to considerable length approximately twice the length or either of the connecting members, or the connector may be reduced'to ap` proximately thelength of one or said membersI or to any length intermediate of the two extremes. This provides a conveniently adjustable connector which may be adjusted to bridge any space usually encountered in broken wires so that the trolleywheel may operate continuously against the wire and the connector and the car be driven under power while passing the break the wires. The tubular connecting member 8v is provided with two diverging arms lOvbetween which the rope 3 or' the wire stretching mechanism is'` received. The' arms are provided with a number of holes 11 which receive the removable elements 12 passing above the rope so that the intermediate portion of the'rcon'nector and the stretching mechanism are connected', thus reinforcing and strengthening both.

A connector of this construction consti-V tutes a lconvenient and eiicient equipment for effecting Ytemporary connection between the adjacent portions Vof broken trolley wires andthe like, andfby use of which interruption of traffic 'after the device is applied is avoided.` This is of especial importance in communities in which the cars using lthe 'line of the broken wire are numerous, inasmuch as very little time is required to apply the temporary connector which may be' retained inV position untilthe proper opportunity is, afforded to make permanent re-Y pair, as when the traffic has becomereduced. rlhe device also enables the car to travel past the break in the wire under power and thus avoids delays incident toA the .fre nent stopsy of4 cars in passing the point o the the invention. Therefore, l do not restrict myself. to identical features of construction or arrangement, but contemplate variations within the scope ofmechanical equivalents so that the device may be made in any pre- Y ferred nform in which it will most eiiiciently subserve the functions required of it. Y

-What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` 1'. A device of the character described comprising brackets, means for removably connectingthe `brackets to the wire, a connector between the-brackets adapted to place the two parts `of the brokenjwire in circuit with each other, andan element for supporting the device in connection with the adjacent separate wire stretching mechanism.

' 2.A device of the character described comprising two brackets, means for removably connecting the brackets to adjacent portions of the broken wire, a connector between the brackets comprising two relatively long telescoping parts inV connection with said brackets respectively, adapted to place the two parts of the broken wire in circuit with each other, two diverging arms in connection with` oneof said parts adapted to receive the adjacent wire stretching mechanism'between them, andan element for holding the wire stretching mechanism bel tween said arms. Y

*3.` A device of the characterl described comprising two brackets of duplicate construction each composed of a base having its upper surface inclined ydownwardly and outwardly, whereby the under surfaces of Y the brackets are normally in alinement with the under surfaces of the wires resting thereon, and flanges rising from the base and adapted to receive the wire between them; means for securing the flanges to the wire, and a connector between said brackets comprising two relatively long telescoping parts connected to said brackets respectively, adapted to place the two parts of the broken wire in circuit with each other.

A. A device of the character described comprising two brackets, releasable devices for supporting the brackets in connection with adjacent portions of a broken wire, an expansible connection between said brackets adapted to serve as an electric conductor between the adjacent portions of the wire, and an element for supporting the device in connection with adjacent separate wire stretching mechanism.

5. A device of the character described comprising'two brackets, releasable means for supporting the brackets in connection with adjacent portions of a broken wire, an eXpansible connection between said brackets adapted to serve as an electric conductor between the adjacent portions of the broken wire and to transmit power for driving a car, and means for supporting the device in connection with adjacent wire stretching mechanism.

6. A device of the character described, comprising two brackets of duplicate construction each composed of a base having its upper surface inclined downwardly and outwardly, whereby the under surfaces of the brackets are normally in alinement with the under surfaces of the wires or resting thereon, and flanges rising from the base and adapted to receive the wire between them; means for securing the brackets to the wire; a connector between said brackets comprising two relatively long telescoping parts connected to said brackets respectively adapted to place the two parts of the broken wire in circuit with each other; and a supporting element in connection with one of said parts for supporting the device in connection with adjacent separate wire stretching mechanism.

7. A device of the character described, comprising two brackets of duplicate construction each composed of a base having a seat for the wire therein inclined downwardly and outwardly, whereby the under surfaces of the brackets are normally in alinement with the under surfaces of the wires in connection therewith; means for securing the brackets in connection with the stretched wire at opposite sides of adjacent separate wire stretching mechanism; and a connector between said brackets of greater length than the adjacent separate wire stretching mechanism comprising two relatively long telescoping parts connected to said brackets respectively and adapted to place the two parts of the broken wire in wire stretching mechanism; a connector begreater length than tween said brackets of the adjacent separate wire stretching mechanism comprising two* relatively long tele- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

scoping parts connected to said brackets respectively and adapted to place the two parts of the broken wire in circuit with each other from opposite sides of the wire stretching mechanism; and a supporting element in connection with one of said telescoping parts for supporting the intermediate portion of said device in connection with the Wire stretching mechanism.

In witness whereof, I have signed thisv specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH E. BURGESS. Witnesses:

N. G. BUTLER, JOHN D. RIPPEY.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

